Allstate Insurance has released the results of a survey they performed across the country, which showed that almost 60 percent of Americans would like a nationwide law that would set minimum state requirements for a graduated driver licensing (GDL) program.
The survey also showed that among all of the age groups, adolescents ranked the lowest. In fact, among the participants, 81 percent gave teens an “average” or “poor” driver rating.
The STANDUP Act (Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection), is already in Congress where it is pending. It is already an element of the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act (MVHSIA) of 2011, also known as Mariah’s Law.
The STANDUP Act creates a uniform standard across the country that would limit the number of allowable passengers in a car driven by a teen, restricts driving at night, bans the use of mobile phones while behind the wheel, and issues a graduated, multi-step permit and license based on age requirements.
The survey also showed that 76 percent of the participants across the country believe that it is a good idea for learner’s permits to be issued only to those aged 16 years or older. Also, 69 percent support a three-stage licensing process. Moreover, 81 percent of Americans believe that the use of mobile devices and texting while driving should be banned, while 70 percent think that drivers under the age of 18 should not be able to drive at night unsupervised. According to 65 percent of Americans, the number of passengers who are non-family members should also be restricted for drivers under the age of 18.
That said, a new report from the DMV in Connecticut has shown that since they enacted tougher teen driving laws in August, 2008, there has been a notable decrease in overall crashes within that age group. Moreover, the number of teen-related driving offense convictions have also decreased.
According to Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, who has found these results to be quite encouraging, they know that there is no single key to stopping all crashes from occurring, “but the push to educate young drivers and enforce stricter driving laws is proving to be an effective tool that can help save lives.”
It is also the hope of many parents that these programs will start to have a positive impact on their car insurance rates, as they currently pay 10 to 15 percent more when they add their teen son or daughter to their coverage, as adolescent drivers continue to pose an increased risk due to a lack of driving history and the perception of that age group’s driving abilities.